Using Toys in training

Dogs love to play. Puppies love to play even more than their full-grown relatives, and you’ll soon notice that a puppy can turn a tiny shred of paper on the ground into a full-blown adventure. Even so, your pup should have some carefully selected toys in his crate and available to him at any time.  

First rule: don’t get too many toys. Puppies can go into a form of information overload if they have a herd of toys at their disposal. Not only will they not have the time to learn the skills each can teach them, they’ll learn that anything on the floor is theirs. You leave your shoes and clothing on the floor, don’t you? See, you’ll want to prevent that. Second rule: don’t use old shoes or other clothing as dog toys. Think about that. You don’t want your pup chewing up your shoes, yet you give him an old shoe for play time. It’s a little confusing. Third rule: no tug of war. Dogs love this game, but they love it for all the wrong reasons when it comes to relating with their masters. If your puppy wins tug of war (whether you let him or not), it teaches him that he can defeat you and is therefore the dominant dog in the pact. Fourth rule: check toys for small or moving parts like bells and music chips. What if your pup gets really bored and decides to dissect his toy while you’re gone? Those bells are the perfect size to be swallowed and stuck in his throat.

Just like babies, puppies love toys that stimulate several of their senses. Try to find toys with rough, durable exteriors that also have noisemakers and fun textures. Having a decent variety of toys that can be constantly rotated – only keeping two or three out and available to your pup at a time – can help your puppy learn and expand his mind. Because they keep your pooch entertained, they’re an important part of crate training. Make sure your puppy has at least one toy in the crate with him regardless of the length of time he’ll be crated. This encourages him to entertain himself and not act out in boredom.

Toys like the one pictured – with bright colors, easy to grip surfaces, and fun textures – paired with proper playtime techniques can help your puppy’s sense of discipline and mental capacity.